“I just wanted to say thank you. I’m not sure I would have survived the past two years if I hadn’t of had that DBT training. It really has helped me use TIPP skills to deescalate when my brain is in crisis, and to check the facts when my brain is lying to me, and to use opposite action when my emotions are telling me to do things that aren’t healthy, to pro/con list difficult decisions, and to differentiate between my wise mind and emotion mind. (…) Thanks so much for being awesome, supportive, helpful DBT clinician for me! Otherwise these past two years would have been so hard. I appreciate you!”

“Being able to understand how I’m feeling and communicate it, whether it is via text or in real life, is something I’m doing a lot better at. I’m not reacting to things in a way that’s going to create an argument or a fight. I used to sit with things and get mad. I don’t want to ignore things anymore. I’m sitting back and saying ‘that’s not comfortable.’ I’m standing up for myself. I’m more self-aware. I had lost sight of me for a while. This year, I started on a good path. Having my own goals and projects, helping other people as needed, doing a good job at my job, keeping my path open as to where I want to go instead of falling back on how I used to do things, which was making other people happy. [Therapy] has helped me grow and be mentally happier.”

“You gave me the space to make different choices. Introduced the concept that there were different choices. It gave me the strength to plunge into the unknown. It gave me a whole other avenue. I can’t emphasize to people how the choice to not having anything to do with my parents changed my life and it was okay to do. I had no concept that I deserved better. Therapy was integral to making that choice. I’m so much happier. I have never been so thankful that I’m alive. I’ve never looked forward to the future so much. I’ve worked on self-compassion and given myself the space to be imperfect. To know I deserve good things and it’s okay to ask for better.”

“I knew what I wanted to work on. It felt really good to do therapy to accelerate that growth. You’ve given me the tools. It has been helpful to have validation; it has helped me be able to let go and move on, and to realize that I needed that validation. Wanting it from my mom but now knowing I don’t need it from her. It feels like a lot of growth.”

“I was able to speak to you more openly than anyone else. The nonjudgment helps. I can tell that you genuinely care. It was a very good first therapy experience.”

“You have helped me more and quicker than any other therapist I’ve had in my life.”